Rockies’ Aaron Cook skips bullpen with sore shoulder

Despite their best efforts, a Rockies’ pitcher landed in the trainer’s room. Aaron Cook, viewed as a key piece in the rotation, skipped his scheduled side session today because of a sore right shoulder.

“(Trainer Keith Dugger) said it would be best if we just back off for a few days. There was a little something there, so we don’t want to push it,” manager Jim Tracy said.

Cook went 6-8 with a 5.08 ERA last season when his sinker betrayed him. He felt like he had fixed his mechanics in September, putting together consecutive solid starts before the Reds’ Joey Votto broke his right fibula with a one-hop shot off the pitcher’s leg.

Cook has added weight and arrived in camp convinced he would rebound.

The Rockies adopted a “less is more” philosophy throwing program this spring in hopes of avoiding the injuries that struck Huston Street and Rafael Betancourt a year ago.

The pitchers began spring throwing a 30-pitch side session, rather than pitch on a time-limit. They also have not been throwing breaking balls, and won’t until their third session. Missing one session won’t leave Cook behind, but if it grows into a week or two he could be playing catch-up when the games start next weekend at Salt River Fields.

The Rockies have more rotation depth this spring with Felipe Paulino, Esmil Rogers and Eric Stults.